more from Ludwig Wittgenstein

Single Idea 19272

[catalogued under 15. Nature of Minds / A. Nature of Mind / 4. Other Minds / d. Other minds by analogy]

Full Idea

If one has to imagine someone else's pain on the model of one's own, this is none too easy a thing to do: for I have to imagine pain which I do not feel on the model of pain which I do not feel.

Gist of Idea

To imagine another's pain by my own, I must imagine a pain I don't feel, by one I do feel

Source

Ludwig Wittgenstein (Philosophical Investigations [1952], §302)

Book Reference

Wittgenstein,Ludwig: 'Philosophical Investigations', ed/tr. Anscombe,E. [Blackwell 1972], p.101


A Reaction

I just don't feel a deep problem here. Wittgenstein didn't know about mirror neurons, which trigger in me a reaction like the one causing your behaviour.